Rain not enough to douse Tasmanian bushfires

Rain is tipped to fall in Tasmania this week, to firefighters' relief, but communities are being told to stay alert as it won't be enough to put out the blazes.

Firefighters are still battling several blazes.

Firefighters are still battling several blazes. Source: AAP

Cooler conditions have helped Tasmania's fire fighters overnight but people are being warned not to be complacent.

The fires, some of which were sparked before Christmas, have destroyed seven homes in the Huon Valley, southwest of Hobart, and on the Central Plateau.

Weather conditions again remained mostly favourable overnight, with little fire activity reported by crews state-wide.
 large bushfire burning in Tasmania, Australia. Some 55,0000 hectares of wilderness and bushland across the state has been ravaged by scores of fires, at least one of which has been burning since late December.
Bushfires burned across Tasmania in January. Source: AAP
Authorities warn the bushfire in Southwest, which may put Geeveston, Port Huon, Cairns Bay at high risk throughout the evening and into the morning, will be difficult to control.

A couple on hotspots in inaccessible areas near Glen Huon will be water bombed on Wednesday.

Rain is expected to bring relief across the state on Thursday, with falls ranging from 5 to 30mm.
A bushfire burns in Miena.
A bushfire burns in Miena. Source: AAP
Crews still have a considerable amount of work to do and will use the cooler conditions and rain predictions to strengthen containment lines over the next two days.

Despite the favourable fire weather conditions, the Tasmania Fire Service has urged locals not to become complacent, with the fires expected to pose a risk to communities for some time.
"That rain will not put out all our fires," Tasmania Fire Service regional controller Greg Butters told reporters.

"We're asking that people maintain their vigilance."

Vast amounts of rugged wilderness have been charred by blazes that have burned 195,000 hectares, about three per cent of the island state.

A near-century-old trapper's hut has been destroyed and the popular Tahune Airwalk, significantly damaged.


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